Tales of Tyranny: Joe Remenar’s “Illegal” Wildlife Habitat

Enjoying the views out his back deck, Joe decided to improve the wildlife habitat on his property. He didn’t apply for a grant or take taxpayer dollars. He just spent his own time and money to improve the habitat for the birds, amphibians, insects, and other critters by building a pond. He was careful in his pond construction. He did not interrupt the flow of a stream (also known as an “instream flow” violation). State Fish and Wildlife biologists even reported that his pond was a clear and obvious wildlife enhancement project. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwtoEN6nstA?feature=player_embedded&w=180&h=135]He was justifiably proud of his accomplishment, and it changed a field with little habitat into a pond with nesting geese, feeding grounds for great blue herons, and other wildlife in the area. But Joe made one crucial mistake: he did not get permission from the Central Planners at Whatcom County. For this crime against bureaucracy, Joe was going to be punished. Geese on Joe Remenar’s Pond

Whatcom’s Central Planners, led by Lyn Morgan-Hill demanded that Joe destroy the pond and habitat in order to save the wildlife. Going a step further, they decided Joe should also have to pay one of Whatcom’s “preferred” consultants, who would create the plan on how to best destroy the pond. This solution was one only a dedicated Central Planner could invent and justify.

No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

If a person’s constitutional RIGHT must first past muster with a local administrative body … does that person really have a constitutional right?

And if un-elected, unaccountable bureaucrats can persecute someone like Joe Remenar, if they can subject people to indefinite delays, holding dreams hostage and as they hold citizens guilty until proven innocent … is that the rule of law?

Joe’s story is a Tale of Tyranny, yet it is far from unique. Stories like this one happen in counties and cities across the country. They are the result of power taken away from individual citizens and given to faceless bureaucracies. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. The Freedom Foundation is working to reestablish limits on government and return power to individual people, families, and communities.

This is why we do what we do. The Freedom Foundation is telling Joe’s story as a part of a new video series-Tales of Tyranny-to make our fellow citizens aware of the personal cost of out-of-control government. Accused of a crime, your rights have all kinds of protections. But when regulators come after you, none of those apply. There is no assurance of a speedy trial, no right to a jury…you’re not even innocent until proven guilty.

It doesn’t have to be this way-I’m contacting you because you know that. Will you help me spread the word? We must wake up more of our fellow citizens. We must build up the Freedom team.

Tales of Tyranny is a tool for you. Please watch the videos, including new ones as they come out, and share them as widely as you can.